RHP McClung (Balfour trade) promoted, Villanueva optioned to AAA

[Brian the Automator]

Suppan will be in the bullpen by playoff time.

Alright, I'll bite. Who will be in the rotation?

 

[fondybrewfan]

Even if Suppan continues to suck and if we make the playoffs he will still be in the rotation. Suppan had the ever elusive "playoff experience" which will help him throw complete game shut outs despite sucking in non playoff positions

[YoGo24]

Great move here by Melvin. Gallardo is coming very close to that 175 inning mark and although he probally will go over it he wont be in the rotation come middle of September. This "stretching out" of Villy gives us just another good SP for the chase.

Sheets

Cappy

Villy

Suppan

Vargas or Bush

Come playoff time you have to like this rotation. Although they havent pitched up to expectations this year having 5 quality arms for the playoffs is something most teams cant say they have

[JJHardy7]

I thought a player had to be in AAA for 18 days to use up the option and can return after 10 (if there aren't any injuries). This is at least what was discussed involving Weeks when he was sent down.

[hauser42]

If this team makes the playoffs I'm not sold that Yo does not pitch as a starter. Yes he has a future but they way he throws and his stuff a couple of extra starts is not going to do him any damage. He has solid mechanics so it is not like he is putting any added stress on his arm with some wierd motion.

 

Sheets (if he is healthy)

Yo

Suppan

Bush

 

I dont know Why Villy would be put into the rotation in the playoffs unless he comes back and is lights out in the rotation. He has been terrible till last night over the last month so that should not earn him a starting spot over the other guys.

 

Really hope that Parra is included for the playoffs he has looked good but with his injury past I can see them going without him and saving the stress on his arm.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Playoff rotation will be Sheets, Gallardo, Bush, Capuano. Capuano will pitch much better in September and Suppan who is the weak link of the rotation along with Vargas will be in the bullpen due to ineffectiveness.

[aracko]

I just dont get it. Suppans Earned runs the last 4 starts are 3,4,1,2. Thats pretty good and giving your team a chance to win every time he took the mound. He is a pitcher who gets stronger as the year goes on and has a track record which in my opinion proves it. Soup was signed because he is a stud in the clutch for whatever reason.

 

As far as Vargas - why is he continuously bashed on this site? He had 2 bad starts mixed in with 8 pretty good starts over his last 10. If every pitcher on this staff pitched as well as him we would have a few more wins, granted our BP would be taxed. He is a 5th starter though - getting 5 quality innings out of your 5th starter is a quality that every team in the league would love to have. When yost leaves him in there after 5 is when he runs into trouble. Thats yost for you, making things complicated.

[joepepsi]

Suppan will be in the bullpen by playoff time.

 

Suppan's ERA is 4.89. His career ERA is 4.63. He's on pace for 32 starts, 192 innings. He pitched better in St. Louis, but that may have been his peak years, or other factors such as better defense, more friendly park, could be the difference.

 

At any rate, he's right within the range of his career averages. It's great when players perform above their career norms. It's silly to be outraged when they play within the range of expectation.

[PaulRigdon]

Why does McClung get the call up and not Steve Bray?

[Yaz]

Wow I just think for all Villenueva has contributed he might not get a chance should the Brewers reach the postseason. Well, I don't know too much about McClung. What's the book on him?

[Diskono]

Why does McClung get the call up and not Steve Bray?

 

McClung is already on the 40-man roster, and I suspect we may be saving the two remaining spots for other players on September 1st.

[Brian the Automator]

Why does McClung get the call up and not Steve Bray?

It's a necessity to try out McClung this year instead of Bray because Seth's out of options. If they don't audition him now, they lose their only chance in seeing how he fares against major league hitters in regular season action.

 

[crewcrazy]

Wow I just think for all Villenueva has contributed he might not get a chance should the Brewers reach the postseason. Well, I don't know too much about McClung. What's the book on him?

Mid-to-high 90's fastball, nasty curveball, tough on RHP's. As a starter, his endurance isn't that great, and it looks like he doesn't have much of a future as a starter in the bigs, but his stuff is useful out of the bullpen. He's had problems with control, though, and Tampa gave up on him despite him being 26 or 27. From the scouting reports, he sounds a lot like Turnbow as far as stuff and control problems go. He definitely has the stuff to make it, though...Tampa was ready to give him the closer's job this year until he showed up to Spring Training overweight, which was basically the straw that broke the camel's back. They sent him down right away and I don't think he's seen MLB action yet this year. I'm hoping Maddux can help him iron out some of his control issues, although it looks like he's had good control so far in AAA.

 

[sgtcluels]

Suppan has shown in the last 2 years that his number substantially improve. But beyond that, it's fairly spotty.

 

07 - 0.42 ERA Reduction and an IP/G reduction by about a 1/2 inning.

06 - 3.44 ERA Reduction and IP/G improvement of about 1/2 inning.

05 - 1.43 ERA Reduction and IP/G improvement of about 1/3 inning.

04 - 1.90 ERA Increase and IP/G reduction of about 1/3 inning.

03 - 1.10 ERA Increase and IP/G that's about nill.

 

I think he's done his job all year, kept us in it.

[BillScottCanRake]

If this team makes the playoffs I'm not sold that Yo does not pitch as a starter. Yes he has a future but they way he throws and his stuff a couple of extra starts is not going to do him any damage. He has solid mechanics so it is not like he is putting any added stress on his arm with some wierd motion.

 

The problem with that is that extra innings lead to fatigue, and fatigue can lead to a breakdown in mechanics, and that's when injuries become more likely. Fatigue also tends to limit effectiveness. With all things being equal Gallardo is one of the teams best four starters, but I don't think they'll be equal by the end of the year.

 

I know I'll catch a lot of flak for this, but if the Brewers decide to keep Gallardo in their rotation and effectively say "screw the innings limit, we are going for it", I'd rather they just miss the playoffs. I still think that this team is built to make a sustained four-five year run and Gallardo is too big a part of that to risk for this year alone.

[GormanHarvey]

I know this isn't the place for this, but I didn't know where else to ask. Does anyone know where Woogie went? I miss the IGT's starting earlier in the day.

[Scooter1027]

I agree with BSCR. I think this team is built to be better next year than this year. Even if we make the playoffs, would anyone feel that great about our chances to win it all? I don't think you play just to make the playoffs, as nice as that might be. You play to win it all, and I don't think this team, with or without Yo, can get that done this season. Next season though? Maybe, with less of an innings limit on our 3 young pitchers and the added experience for all of our young players. I don't want to see a chance at a sustained run at the top spolied by burning Yo out in his first pro season. There are too many recent examples (Francisco Liriano, Josh Johnson, etc) who have suffered the consequences. I know some will disagree and say that with the opportunity we have, you gotta roll the dice. If we do, I sure hope it doesn't come back to bite us next year.

[RightFieldCoder]

If you DL him, you lose Villanueva for 15 games. That puts him back the Sept 1st roster cutoff deadline. That would be a bad idea.

Geez Brian. Read the FAQ :p

Which players are eligible are allowed to be on the post-season roster? Players that are on the 40-man roster by August 31st are eligible to be on the post-season roster.

 

What is the 15-day disabled list? Players who are injured may be placed on the 15-day disabled list and are removed from the 25-man roster. Players on the 15-day disabled list remain on the 40-man roster.

 

So if we 15-day DL Villy he would still be on the 40-man and still be eligible for the post-season. This is also why it isn't a rush to get Sheets back by Sept 1st since he's still on the 40. There is a rush to get Sheets back to get us to the post season though.

[Brian the Automator]

My bad. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[giffted1]

I agree with BSCR. I think this team is built to be better next year than this year. Even if we make the playoffs, would anyone feel that great about our chances to win it all? I don't think you play just to make the playoffs, as nice as that might be. You play to win it all, and I don't think this team, with or without Yo, can get that done this season. Next season though? Maybe, with less of an innings limit on our 3 young pitchers and the added experience for all of our young players. I don't want to see a chance at a sustained run at the top spolied by burning Yo out in his first pro season. There are too many recent examples (Francisco Liriano, Josh Johnson, etc) who have suffered the consequences. I know some will disagree and say that with the opportunity we have, you gotta roll the dice. If we do, I sure hope it doesn't come back to bite us next year.

I think its a false assumption Liriano's and Johnson's injuries were caused by being overworked in their first full seasons in the majors. Francisco Liriano's season ended in 2006 with 121 innings pitched. Liriano may have been overworked in 2005, but in 2006 he was watched closely and even started the year in the bullpen to keep his innings down. Josh Johnson threw 157 innings in 2006. That was only a five inning jump from the year before. Both these guys had promising rookie seasons ended or followed by injury, but their age, not their workload was the culprit.

 

Young pitchers are going have a high injury risk no matter what their workload is. I know there's a high chance Yovani could get injured if he's still in the rotation late in September, but I don't think the risk is much higher than it was a month ago. If we can afford to shut Yovani down I'm all for it, but if we need him to keep starting I don't think the risk of injury will be much higher than it already is.

 

[endaround]

Based on what? Its not like people are picking out an inning limit on the fly and saying this is it. Studies have been done showing a large increase in injury risk with larger than ~25% increases in workload. And keep in mind Gollardo is really young for a pitcher. Very few pitchers his age are in the majors over history.

[hauser42]

Based on what? Its not like people are picking out an inning limit on the fly and saying this is it. Studies have been done showing a large increase in injury risk with larger than ~25% increases in workload. And keep in mind Gollardo is really young for a pitcher. Very few pitchers his age are in the majors over history.

 

Off the top of my head Doc Gooden and Rocket Clemens come to mind as to being young pitchers.

 

Josh Johnson injury occured becaue his manager miss used him in a game.

 

For every study there is certain types that are on the upper limits, while others are below the standard. Yo could easily be the type of guy that can handle extra innings. At anytime a pitcher can blow out his arm, tomorrow Coco could go down throwing the pitch in the ninth.

[Trowekamp]

What are the odds that Villanueva is going to get a couple of starts in AAA to stretch out for the rotation in September (replacing Yo?)

[Brian the Automator]

What are the odds that Villanueva is going to get a couple of starts in AAA to stretch out for the rotation in September (replacing Yo?)

I'd say low... In the latest Brewers.com article, Ned mentioned how he was going to be counted on to pitch 6th and 7th inning duty in September.

 

[dadofandrew]

McClung is up because they think he will help the team more than Bray. He throws much harder, and has always been a "Turnbow" type, high ceiling, low results. Bray was a minor league FA, he has already more than surpassed his expectations...his ceiling is probably as a Spurling type, 11th/12th man.

 

Carlos V won't use an option if down for 18 days or less, and with Carlos, options are meaningless anyway. I assume he still has all 3, as I think he was added to the 40 when he came up last year. Even if he "only" has 2 left, that would mean he'd have to be up for good in April '10...I'm not concerned.